OSCE Stockholm negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh postponed

VIENNA, 3 March 1995 - The following press statement was issued by the Co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno-Karabakh:

The negotiations between the parties to the conflict on Nagorno-Karabakh as well as the meetings of the OSCE Minsk Group, intended to be held in Stockholm from 20 to 24 March have been postponed. The decision to postpone, taken by the Co-Chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Conference, is based on the assessment that the necessary conditions conductive to constructive talks are not fulfilled.

The Co-Chairmanship deplores that it has found it necessary to take this decision at a time when a cease-fire has been in effect in the region for ten months and the process in search of a stable peace consequently should be intensified. The Co-Chairmanship will urgently take steps to ensure the continuation of the process and strongly urges the parties to the conflict to show more sincere will to negotiate and to compromise even on crucial issues.

The Co-Chairmanship intends to visit the region in the near future for consultations with the parties.

The OSCE Minsk Group, which will culminate in the convening of the Minsk Conference, is active in the process leading to a peaceful political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Conference, to be held in Minsk, will provide an ongoing forum for negotiations toward a lasting settlement of the crisis. The full Minsk Group has twelve Member States: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Germany, United States of America, Belarus, France, Hungary, Italy, Russian Federation, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. Sweden and the Russian Federation currently hold the Co-chairmanship.